Improved heel for boots and shoes



gtiuited 5mm @tutti YRUFUS LAPHAM, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters Patent No. 88,310, dated Mot/rch 30, 1869; anteda'ted M arch 11, 1869.

IMPROVED HEEL FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

I The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

Be it known that I, RUFUS LAPHAM, of Boston, in the county' of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Heels for Boots and Shoes and I do hereby declare that the following is an exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in constructing heels for boots and shoes in such a manner and of suoli material that they can be easily attached to the soles, without the use of screws, pins, pegs, or any of the known contrivances, by having the case of the heel spring open, and then closed around the sole, and there fastened by a simple catch, which also fastens the treading-part ot' the heel; sheet-iron, steel, or anysnitable sheet-metal heilig used instead of castings.

The following is an exact description of my invention.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the heel.

Figure 2, a'transverse section.

Figure 3 is a bottoni view, and

Figure 4 is a perspective view.

Figure 5 represents teeth in the bent rim a a, as seen iu iig. 2.

'lhe top and bottom of the edges of the case c c are bent inwardly, at or nearly a right angle, as seen at a a and b I) in fig. 2.

y g is a horseshoe-formed plate, which is fastened to the plate 1), leaving an open space at b b, and holding the leather or rubber wearing-plate d firmly between them on its edge z x. The open space made by these two plates also gives a firm attachment to the case c c,

seen at b b.

The ends of the case c, as best seen in fig. 3, meet together at h, and so constructed that a part of one passes through the other, making a catch when the case c is sprung together. The teeth a a, in iig. 5, enter between the sole and upper leather, and make thereby a sure attachment. treading-part of the heel rmly to the case c, as best seen in b b in fig. 2.

It will be seen that the treading-part, composed of the plate y, the plate p, and the plate d, is inserted in its place when the case a is sprung open, and can thus at any time be removed.

In order to apply this heel to a shoe, Irst push the treading-part g g d p, as seen in iig. 2, into the case c, and then, springing the case around the heel of the sole at f6 a, I iorce the teeth, or rim a a, between the sole and upper leather, and there and then bind the whole together hy the simple catch h.

I intend to make these heels from sheet-iron or steel, which maybe of but little weight, even less than leather heels, and at a cost less than one-fourth, by the aid of proper machinery, and they are so constructed that any person can apply them, in less than .a minute, to a shoe either new or old.

Wha-t I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The vcatch h, for the purpose specified.A

2. The treading-part g g dp, constructed as described.

3. The serrated rim a a, for the purpose set forth.

4. A boot or shoefheel, consisting ofthe spring-case c and detachable tread-piece, substantiallyas described and set forth.

RUFUS LAPHAM. Witnesses SYLvENUs WALKER, Jos. H. WHITMAN.

The catch` h also holds the' 

